How to choose a bike rack
With so many brands of bike racks on the market, how does a customer choose the best bike rack for them.
A few requirements people consider are:
How much the bike rack weighs
Bike racks vary vastly in weight. Most don’t disclose the weight of their racks because they can weight 65 to 120 pounds. This is a major factor that everyone should consider. Installing a heavy bike rack is a two person job to perform safely. AntiMatter bike racks weigh under 30-lbs for a two bike carrier set. Each component is under 10-lbs.
Compact storage
Bike racks vary greatly in size. Most hitch bike racks are extremely large and lack any folding capabilities. This presents challenges with storage and most people permanently leave them on their vehicle because it’s too inconvenient to uninstall and store in the garage. Most bike racks are too large to store inside your car when not in use. AntiMatter bike racks conveniently fold or quickly disassemble for compact storage.
How the rack mounts to your vehicle
Basically there are a three types of bike racks: trunk mount (with hooks and straps), receiver hitch mounted racks, and roof top carriers. Any receiver bike rack can fit 2” and 1-1/4” receivers with an inexpensive adapter available in most stores. Receiver hitch bike racks keep the bicycles spaced away from you car, making them very safe for your vehicle. Trunk racks on the other hand, hold bicycles very close to the car and often allow bicycles to sway damaging your car and adjacent bicycles as well. Roof racks protect your car from your bicycles, but mounting bikes on a vehicle’s roof can be very difficult and often results in damaging your car’s roof. Roof racks are also notorious for severe damage to bikes and cars when we forget and enter drive throughs and parking garages. Receiver hitch racks often provide the best support for carrying bicycles.
Do you want the rack on your car all the time
Bike racks range vastly in size, weight, and how easy they install and how much space they take to store in your home. Roof racks are installed and remain on the vehicle all the time. They are difficult to install and adjust. They permanently change the appearance and profile of your vehicle, and sometimes whistle while driving. Most hitch racks are large and heavy, forcing us to keep it installed on the car all the time, often blocking access to the rear of the vehicle. Trunk racks must be installed carefully and care must be taken to prevent damage to the car and other adjacent bicycles.
Compatible with all bicycle frames
Many bike racks depend on a frame triangle to hang by the top tube. Frame designs have changed and most bicycles today lack the space in the frame to hang the bike on this kind of rack. Holding a bicycle by the frame has become the least universal rack type. AntiMatter bike racks hold bicycles by the crank and front wheel, making all bikes compatible.
Compatible with all bicycle wheel sizes
Most bike racks for the past 10 years carry the bicycle by the wheels. Many bike racks fit a few wheel sizes and tire sizes, then require adapters to fit others, or can’t accomodate various wheel sizes at all. AntiMatter bike racks hold any diameter wheel and all tire widths, making all bikes compatible.
Compatible with all bicycle lengths
Bike racks are generally designed around an adult bicycle size. This makes it challenging to carry kids bicycles and any bicycle with a short wheelbase. AntiMatter bike racks have a simple adjustment for wheelbase, making all bikes compatible.
